25th ANNIVERSARY
NFCA National Convention December 10-13, 2008 Marco Island, Florida 2008National Convention National Fastpitch port S port Coaches Association DECEMBER 10-13, 2008 "Building the Prepared Athlete: Success through Strength and Conditioning" Pre-Convention Seminar – December 9 National Convention – December 10-13 National Convention Exhibitor Show – December 11 & 12
Learn, Network and Discuss, In Beautiful Marco Island, Florida
xhibitors in the the in E xhibitors Choose To Attend the Pre- The Latest Innovations in Softball Convention Seminar Equipment, and Some Excellent Buys Brandon Marcello, USA Olympic Softball Team Director of Hu- At the Silent Auction man Performance, has worked with some of the best softball More than 70 different companies are expected for the Exhibi- nd a nd athletes in the world. He'll discuss his methods in a four-hour tor Show, December 11-12. Learn about the newest in softball pre-convention seminar, covering warm-up and recovery, training technology and pick up great discounts at the Silent position-specific strength & development, answers to common Auction, on display Friday.
ches ches questions and practical game-day nutrition.
a Forums To Discuss Changes and Future o More Than Two Days of Clinic of the Sport C Sessions By Excellent Speakers, Thursday and Friday will feature business meetings for the Covering the Game individual membership groups. It’s the perfect time to discuss Learn valuable drills and tips from some of the best speakers in the key softball issues. softball today. Veteran coaches and national experts tell their secrets of the game. Networking Opportunities stpitch stpitch Fa How to Register Please complete the registration form and either mail or fax with payment to the NFCA office by Novem- ber 1 to receive the Early Bird Special rates. Registrations received after November 1 will be charged regular rates, and on-site registration will include a late-fee.
General Registration – Please note that the convention fees are all-inclusive, except for the optional pre- thering of of thering convention seminar (Tuesday, December 9) and the golf and tennis tournaments (Wednesday, December 10). The NFCC Coaches College courses being held in conjunction with the convention require additional fees. Your Ga convention registration fee covers all events except those mentioned above, through the afternoon of Saturday, December 13; this includes all receptions, luncheons, banquets and breakfasts.
Friday/Saturday Registration Only – For high school and travel ball coaches only able to attend Friday and Saturday, we are offering a special two-day only Early Bird Special rate — $250 for NFCA members and $375 for nonmembers. (You can join on the registration form to get the lower rate and receive NFCA membership ben- efits, including 12 issues of our official newspaperFastpitch Delivery.) The two-day only rate includes breakfast Friday and Saturday, and lunch on both days. Two-day registrants who wish to attend the Friday night NFCA Hall of Fame Banquet may buy a ticket for $50 (please see form).
NFCA Attendee Refund Policy Cancellations received prior to November 26 will receive a full refund, minus an administrative fee of $25. Cancellations after November 26 but prior to December 3 will receive a one-half refund. There will be no refunds for cancellations on or after December 3. rgest L a rgest the Attend keynote speakerchristine grant Christine Grant, former director of women’s athletics at the NACWAA and the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association; University of Iowa and the 2007 recipient of the prestigious received the Billie Jean King Contribution Award from the NCAA President’s Gerald R. Ford Award, is the 2008 NFCA Women’s Sports Foundation; was selected as the 1996 NAGWS National Convention keynote speaker. Honors Award Recipient; received the 1998 NCAA Honda Award of Merit for Outstanding Achievement in Women’s Currently an associate professor for the Department of Health Collegiate Athletics and the R. Tait McKenzie Award from and Sports Studies at Iowa, Grant has a long history in the AAHPERD at its 2000 Convention. In 2007 she was selected as Title IX arena. She testified before Congress several times and one of the Top 100 Influential Sports Educators in America by served as a consultant for the Civil Rights Title IX Task Force. the Institute of International Sport. She was a founding member of the Association of Intercol- legiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and served in a variety of A native of Scotland, Grant served as wom- leadership roles with the organization, including president. en’s athletics director at Iowa from the She also served as president of the National Association of time the department was established G SINESS M EETIN G Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) from in 1973 until her retirement in 2000. U 1987 to 1989. She graduated from the Dunfermline College of Physical Education in 1956, Her honors have been frequent and many. Besides receiving and was a field hockey coach and player the Gerald R. Ford Award, which honors an individual who has in her native country and in Canada. She provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercol- came to Iowa in 1969, receiving a bach- legiate athletics on a continuous basis over the course of elor’s degree in physical education their career, Grant was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the and master’s and doctoral degrees National Association for Girls and Women in Sport. In addition, in sport administration.
G ENERAL B DECEMBER 10 WEDNESDAY, she has been named the National Administrator of the Year by building the prepared athlete success through strength & conditioning Presented by Brandon Marcello, USA Olympic softball Team Director of Human Performance Gain knowledge of sport and position-specific training tech- Position-Specific Strength & Speed Development niques used with top college programs and the USA Olympic for Coaches (Hands on/Interactive Learning) Softball Team. ☸ Learn drills to improve speed on the bases and out of the box; Warm-Up and Recovery ☸ Find out how to develop lateral movement; ☸ Learn proper warm-up techniques that can help develop ☸ Know how to improve your pitcher's footwork through and maintain speed and strength; movement drills; ☸ Find out how long a warm-up should take in-between ☸ Discover methods for training your team without a weight multiple games; room – either on the field or in hotel rooms;
☸ Understand techniques to aid in your athletes' recovery ☸ Understand specific exercises for the female PM so they can stay “fresh” for postseason. athlete. Answers to Common Questions about Strength 1-5
and Conditioning for Softball ☸ “Should my pitchers bench press?” “Are Olympic lifts good for you?” “Are there differences in training females vs. males?” “Will women get big lifting weights?” “Should my pitchers run long distance?” “At what age should players start lifting weights?” “How often should we lift in-season?” “What is the best way to start on the bases for speed?
And your specific questions sent to NFCA. DECEMBER 9 Practical Game-Day Nutrition ☸ ☸ Know what and when to eat pre-game, post-game and in-between games; ☸ Find out what your pitcher should eat to maintain perfor- V ENTION SE M INAR CON mance during the game;
☸ Learn what snacks to keep in the dugout; RE - ☸ Understand the “buzz” behind energy drinks. P TUESDAY ☸ Find out how to develop lateral movement. 2008convention schedule SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 friday, december 12 NOON NFCC Course 404 through noon Tuesday 7 AM Schutt Sports Continental Breakfast 8 AM High School & Travel Ball Business mEETings and continuation of other TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 GROup business meetings 1 PM “Building the Prepared Athlete: Success 9 AM Exhibit Hall open until 3 PM Through Strength and Conditioning” 9:30 AM “The Hitting Debate” Jacquie Joseph, head Pre-Convention Seminar Brandon Marcello, coach, Michigan State; Jo Evans, head coach, USA Olympic Softball Team Dir. of Human Performance Texas A&M; and Michael Lotief, co-head coach, Louisiana-Lafayette 11 AM “The Diamond of Success: A WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10 Philosophical Model for Coaching” Holly 8 AM Golf Scramble Hesse, head coach, Missouri State 10 AM Tennis Tournament Noon Mizuno Lunch in the Exhibit Hall 2:30 PM Awards & Hall of Fame Committee Noon Silent Auction in Exhibit Hall Area ends 2 PM 3:30 PM Committee Meetings Rules, Internet and 2:30 PM “Taking the Next Step: Advanced Tips AND Diversity Drills for the Outfield” Jessica Mendoza, 5 PM General Business Meeting three-time USA Olympian, and president of the 7 PM Louisville Slugger Reception Women’s Sports Foundation 3:30 PM “Drills, Drills, Drills” John Tschida, head THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11 coach, University of St. Thomas 5:30 PM Hall of Fame Red Carpet Gala 7 AM Adams USA Continental Breakfast 6:30 PM NFCA Hall of Fame Banquet 8 AM Committee Meetings All-American Regional Chairs, Camps & Clinics, Education & Publications, saturday, december 13 Nominating, Awards & Hall of Fame 9 AM Business Meetings/College Groups 8 AM Texas Woman’s Univ. Master’s Info Session 11 AM Exhibit Hall open until 6:30 PM 9 AM NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year Brunch 12:15 PM Easton Victory Club Luncheon 10:30 AM adidas Roundtable Three different time slots: 1:30 PM Assistant Coach Caucus 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30 PM, with lunch provided at 2:30 PM Softball Summit A Look at the Issues Facing 12:30 PM the Sport “Strength & Conditioning for Softball” Dana 4:30 PM “Olympic Panel” Observations from Beijing Cavalea, director of strength and conditioning for 5:30 PM Exhibit Hall Happy Hour Meet exhibitors the New York Yankees while enjoying beverages and snacks in the Exhibit Hall “How To Correct Pitching Problems” Michele 6:30 PM Division I Conference Meetings Smith, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and 6:30 PM Dinner on your own broadcaster 9 PM Diamond Sports Hospitality “Catching: Blocking and Receiving” first hour; “Catching: Throwing on Steals and Pickoffs” second hour; “Catching: Other Areas (Popups/ Bunts/Calling the Game)” third hour – Clint Myers, head coach, Arizona State “Hall of Fame Panel on Practice Organization” 1:30 PM “A Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of iNvasive Parenting” Hara Estroff Marano, author, and editor-at-large of Psychology Today 2:30 PM “Offensive Strategies To Build a Hitter’s Confidence” Tim Walton, head coach, Florida 3:30 PM “Mental Fundamentals: Taking Your Game to the Next Level” John Kuehl, co- author of Mental Fundamentals of Baseball and Softball 6 PM NFCC 407 through 2 PM Monday COME EARLY OR STAY LATE! NFCC COURSESAT 2008 NFCA NATIONAL CONVENTION Course 404: Solid Team Defense and Strategy Overview: Learn how to put your individual players together to build a defensive team. In addition, you will: ✔ Study various defensive sets and discuss how to select the appropriate set for various game situations; ✔ Identify and understand skills required to execute pickoffs and rundowns; ✔ Learn how to handle special situations (wild pitch/passed balls, dropped third strikes, intentional walks); ✔ Respond to steals, extra-base hits, bunts and slaps; ✔ Increase your understanding of angles, principles of jurisdiction, communication systems and pri- mary/secondary back-up charts; ✔ Learn to interpret statistics and position your players with a purpose in mind; ✔ Use the DP/FLEX rule to your advantage. ✔ Discuss pitch calling, pitching strategy and defensive game plans; ✔ Accumulate drills for the practice of defensive team skills and strategies. U RSE V ENTION CO CON Instructors: Patrick Murphy, head coach at Alabama; Gayle Blevins, head coach at Iowa, and Carol Bruggeman, associate head coach at Louisville. RE -
P DECEMBER 7-9 Class Time Schedule: Sunday – Noon to 5 p.m.; Monday – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday – 8 a.m. to noon. Course 407: Winning Strategies for Game-Day Coaching Overview: This course focuses on the game-day experience. You will develop and apply the skills of coaching through observation, analysis of game clips and real-time strategy decisions: ✔ Analyze selected game match-ups. Develop prospective game plans and discuss them in a group setting; ✔ Identify opponent's basic game plans; ✔ Scout from within a game and assess the strengths and weaknesses of an opponent; ✔ Make real-time strategy decisions based on what you see in game clips; ✔ Evaluate team and individual performance; ✔ Discuss how to handle "teachable moments" during a game; ✔ Address difficult coaching situations and brainstrom how to handle them; ✔ Recognize rules issues and answer questions relative to their resolution; respond to hypothetical rules cases; ✔ Also address: personnel decisions, game hitting, bench management, game-plan adjustments, pitch calling, giving signs, base coaching, developing a "Blue Book" on umpires and conducting meetings. U RSE V ENTION CO CON
Instructors: Sharon Drysdale, NFCC Director and former head coach at Northwestern; Carol - Hutchins, head coach at Michigan, and Cindy Bristow, former ISF Director of Development and owner of Softball Excellence. Class Time Schedule: Saturday — 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday — 8 a.m. P OST DECEMBER 13-15 to 1 p.m. There are THREE ways to register for our courses: 1. Complete the Convention Registration form; 2. Complete the form in the NFCC course listing brochure; 3. Or, go online to www.nfca.org and complete either the convention or NFCC forms. nfca25thANNIVERSARY 1983-2008 This year marks the 25th anniversary of the NFCA, and we hope you’ll join us for a very special national convention. Besides all the great features of past conventions, this year’s event will be a celebration of our growth and success during the past 25 years.
A documentary film, NFCA prize trivia, more opportunities to visit with NFCA Hall of Fame coaches and a special Hall of Fame Red Carpet Gala will enhance the already-popular convention format.
Sign up today! Be a part of this memorable event. MARCO ISLANDMARRIOTT RESORT
400 South Collier Boulevard Marco Island, Florida 34145 800.438.4373 or 239.394.2511 Reservations 239.394.2511 General Phone 239.642.2672 fax www.marcoislandmarriott.com
Come kick off your shoes and explore paradise found at this 1.800.438.4373 (1.800.GET HERE) or 239.394.2511 and ask one-of-a-kind Florida resort, now celebrating the completion for reservations. Call before November 1 to assure room of a $187 million renovation and redesign that has infused availability and rate. Make sure that you state that you want every moment with the spirit of Balinese beauty, hospitality rooms within the NFCA block. All reservations require a and well-being – and added even more wondrous experi- one-night advance deposit per room, plus tax, to guarantee ences to this already acclaimed destination. accommodations. In the event of cancellation, this is com- pletely refundable if cancelled seven days prior to arrival. If Nestled on three miles of pristine Southwest Florida beach, you have any problems, call the NFCA. the Marco Island Marriott is the perfect destination for a memorable meeting. With several renowned restaurants, Check-In By 4 p.m. is guaranteed; checkout is 11 a.m. championship golf, a world-class spa and a wide range of activities and amenities, the Marriott now offers even more Rates The NFCA has acquired the following rates beginning – including upscale shops, a free-form fantasy pool with Wednesday, December 3, through Tuesday, December 16: views of the Florida Gulf, new dining options and completely $139 Single or Double redesigned and redecorated guest rooms. Parking The hotel charges a $10 self-parking fee per day; Reservations To make your hotel reservation, call valet is $18 per day.
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